goosie wrote:We also quote a weekend price and, like othes, simply says that they have full use of the house for all of Sunday that way they can leave as late as they like on Sunday or miss the Sunday night traffic and have a leisurely drive back on Monday morning.
Our bookings are doing well this year - better than last year in fact - but then our house is large and we are finding that the average size of the booking is up - due, I suppose, to families clubbing together to have a break away.
good luck to you all, I'm sure it will pick up.
We just had 4 bookings yesterday (previos week only had 1) looks like the weather has cheered people up here in the UK
Repeat bookings are falling away and we expect them to continue to do so due to:
Repeat bookings tend to be older people and that sector is most hit by the current economic crisis.
The internet is reaching more older people either directly or through their relations. The risk or bother trying out a new cottage has radically reduced... you can see what you are going to get, comparing rates is very easy and booking a new place is radically quicker and less complicated. The brochure booking cottage guests are melting away as the internet radically increases market transparency, reduces booking risk and makes it easier to make bookings to stay in new cottages.
We have seen strong bookings for larger occupancy cottages but the couples and occupy three niches have not had good advance bookings. This could be a matter of confidence set against the need to organise in advance. Families need to be more certain more in advance as do groups of people.. where couples can easily hold off 'till a few weeks or even days before.
This trend will continue to develop. Short notice will become more marked for lower occupancy. Strangely, it is possible that long notice could hold up especially as more people used to booking foreign holidays choose to stay in the UK. The cost advantages in terms of pppn are very much in favour of larger cottages when compared to going abroad where the smaller cottages have a higher pppn cost.
We feel staycations may be more marked for families or groups as opposed to couples due to the pppn factor. Current booking patterns seem to be indicating this for our area.
In general, March will be slightly down and we are seeing a flat to poor April. A similar May to last year. June will be much better than last year... possibly with almost double the bookings. July could be much the same. August is booking well, so it could be up. September like August could be up again.
The number of bookings taken in January and February were in proportion to the number of cottages last year, the first week of March was slightly up... but the second week, ending 11th is well down.
This could be a blip, but who knows?
Also interesting is the adwords cost per click was about 20% higher in Feb 2012 compared to Feb 2011 indicating large booking agencies have upped the anti.
March has just seen them fall back. Our cost per click in February was around 73p It is now closer to 62p. The higher pay per click rate normally reduces in early February, but it clung on for an extra month this year indicating a tougher market.
Another interesting trend is a marked increase in odd booking periods. Our new web site.. (when will it come?) is designed to permit a start and finish day for any part of the week with a duration of three nights to 30 nights.
Although we try to stick to Friday or Monday start in busy periods there is no doubt that the market is demanding more flexibility in low season and, if it can get it, in parts of the shoulder months.
We have spent a small fortune creating an automated booking system with the necessary flexibility to accommodate this new trend...
The alteration in the economy is bound to bring on radical changes which could be good news.. in the end, we are all guessing.
a) People are avoiding UK for reasons that they dont want to be here when the Olympics are on .
b) Europoen Football Championship is on.
c) The Queen's Jublee for all those Monarchist. The word does not share your views & has no interest. No matter how they are packed & sold to the public.
The factors you mention could well be contributing and are interesting. I think you over estimate the Olympics / Jubilee aspect... it has been sold heavily in the UK but a huge number of people have little interest, particularly those outside the main cities with less interest as you go North.
You say:
"The word (sic) does not share your views & has no interest. No matter how they are packed & sold to the public."
It seems a good idea to share as much as possible, don't you think so?
Charles, indeed it is. How ever it does not turn into £, $, €. I also agree with your comments about the Olympics.
What, I was trying to say people are avoiding UK besides what I have stated earlier. When one pays as much or a very large fraction of your plane tickets as one pays to get from Gatwick to Victoria or other destinations such as Bath,Lake district, Stratford upon Avon etc.
If one travels to EU Countries the cost of travel once there is minumum part of ones budget.
